Caju

This is probably one of the more unusual fruits that we have encountered in Brazil, the caju (KAW-joo). It is the fruit that accompanies the cashew nut. Apparently, it's too delicate and perishable for shipping, so it's one of those tropical fruits that you need to be on location to try.

The green knob on the end is the cashew nut, but it is poisonous until it's cooked. The fruit part has soft, spongy texture, with a sweet, fruity flavor. It has a slightly bitter after-taste and leaves a film on the tongue. The skin is very thin, soft and a bit waxy. We did not eat the skin.

We first encountered the fruit in juice form at the hotel we stayed at in Sao Paulo. When we saw the fruit at the store, Joseph insisted that we purchased it to sample. I prefer the juice to the fruit, though it's not the kids' favorite juice.